What mesh classifier do you usually use?

[Sluiceguy42]

Yes, yes I know you don't need to classify for a fluidbed, but what size mesh do you usually use for your normal sluice box? I usually use 3/8 mesh. Curious to see what sizes are used by you.

 

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[H&F909ORO]

For me I usually use a 1/4 in. homemade classifier for my AM sluice. Seems to be the right size for the sluice, although 1/8 would be better. I think the limit for sluices should be 1/2 in. classifiers, just my opinion.

 

[Sluiceguy42]

H&F909ORO, I used to use the classifier from Garret, that one was two holes per inch but realized that I was letting to many big rocks into the sluice. Conveniently, I found a Keene 3/8 inch mesh classifier on the bank.

 

[B H Prospector]

With most of my sluices I use 1/2" classifier. They all handle the material fine. On my Gold Buddy mini Highbanker I will classify down to 1/4" and sometimes 1/8" if there is alot of clay.

 

[H&F909ORO]

H&F909ORO, I used to use the classifier from Garret, that one was one hole per inch but realized that I was letting to many big rocks into the sluice. Conveniently, I found a Keene 2 inch mesh classifier on the bank.

2inch is like boulders going throw a small sluice try selling it.

 

[aarthrj3811]

I may doing to much but I start with ½ screen....I pan what does not go though it....then I use ¼ inch and sometimes 1/8 inch..I always pan what does not go though the screen...and yes I have found nuggets hiding in them....Art

 

[DDancer]

A quarter inch classifier is the best in my experience. Knocks a lot of rocks off and has good grate for breaking up mud and clay. Depends on what the size of the gold is your finding. Eight inch classifiers are ok but you can toss pickers. Gotta judge your results as you go.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Yes, yes I know you don't need to classify for a fluidbed, but what size mesh do you usually use for your normal sluice box? I usually use 2 holes per square inch. Pretty sure that's what it is. (found the classifier along a creek) Curious to see what sizes are used by you.

You want to classify based on the size of the gold available. Most times
I'll classify to 1/8", but can classify down to #20 mesh if I'm chasing
super fine stuff.

If the gold your working is no larger than #30 mesh, then you'll want
to classify to #12 and maybe down as far as #20 mesh...no sense
running all that extra aggregate through the sluice when the gold is
so small. You want to run a size larger mesh than the available gold
just in case there's a larger piece or small nugget.

 

[omnicron]

Dizzy hit the nail on the head. If most of the gold your getting is -30 mesh then you should classify as close to that size as possible but that's lots of extra effort so I used to go between 1/4 to 1/8th. Think of trying to trap a small piece of gold and then have a boulder (1/2" rock) come tumbling down...it's going to disturb lots of gold on its way out.

 

[Goldwasher]

You should classify to 1/4 or 1/8 for glacial gold...Personally from the Rockies west I would never go less than 3/8 for a sluice. ( fine gold comes from bigger gold) and panning I would go maybe a 1/4. Keep in mind the finer the screen the more time you will have to spend over that damned bucket classifier...so not digging and not recovering...that middle man sucks a lot. If you have fast flow and can get the end of the box out of the water shovel right into the box but run less than an inch a foot. Otherwise you should classify to the size of your riffles 3/8 riffles= 3/8 classifier... etc. Lower flow would be the reason to classify further( I just snipe) drop riffles are more forgiving. A bazooka takes care of it for you.

 

[goldenmojo]

Sometmes I classify what comes out of the fluidbed on my supermini. Since it is a small amount I use a sifter with a handle from the kitchen section at Walmat. It looks to be about size 18 mesh. If I know there is going to be a lot of fines I will use a second sifter which is about size 26 or 28. The sifters are small and the screen portion folds flat in the pack. About 2-3 dollars each.

 

[Sluiceguy42]

The 3/8 holes per inch classifier seems to work just fine for me. As long as I am not classifying solid rock it works pretty good. The occasional small pebble it lets through usually won't make much of a difference. Don't really have the cash to buy a new classifier anyway, with all this new prospecting gear I want. The Garrett classifier really butchers the cons though.

 

[Hoser John]

THESE are a fluid beds and all others not-requires shaking motion,constant flow, shot matrix to work properly. Here are 2 fluidized bed rigs-Pan o matic(shotless) and the righteous Precision jig(shot rig) that has processed TONS of materials,that little ol' thang YEP with righteous results. This is also what I utilized on designing the PESCO drywasher with a constant feed of air and offset elliptical vibration motion(akin to panning) to fluidize the bed of the recovery box in the desert with air. -John

 

[goldenIrishman]

Regardless of what size classifier you use to classify your materials with before processing ALWAYS check what doesn't go through for larger pieces of gold. If the area you're working in is known for say 1/8" pieces then use a 1/4" screen and check it well before ya chuck it over into the trash pile.

Last trip out to our claim I wanted to see something. I was classifying down to 1/4" but running it through a 1/2" first. Everything went into separate buckets. When I was done, I figured out that I had to dig just under three buckets of materials to get a single buckets worth that was ready to run. No wonder I came back so worn out!

 

[Duckwalk]

i have a drop riffle sluice. i just throw my 1/2" classifier in my bucket and go that route. seems to work fine. i did try 1/4" but it just took to long to get usable material in my opinion. With the right waterflow, my sluice just rolled the rocks off the end just fine at 1/2"

 

[benny]

Hi,
I have a mini-BGT, and have applied floats to it. If it's floating, clearing the grizzly is near impossible, so I classify to -4 (for holes per inch). If the BGT is on the bottom, then might classify to -2 as I think that size of pebble makes the BGT sort properly. If panning, I usually classify to -8. Last time I was out, I ran into a little pocket with many pickers. I should have classified to -4, but instead, poked around in the classifier a lot to make sure I wasn't throwing the "baby" out with the bathwater.

 

[Teenagegoldminer]

Depends on what kind of gold you get in your area

If you get mostly flour gold use a smaller screen(1/8 or 1/12 inch)

If you get more course gold use a 1/4 or 1/2 inch classifier

 

[Herby D]

"For feeding the stream bed sluice" I always use # 2, or half inch, classifier..IMHO, any sluice box should be able to handle half inch.. assuming you have a decent water flow and it's adjusted right.. the only time I ever use anything smaller is for clean-up...

Most important two letter word sentence.. "If it is to be, it is up to me"

 

[QNCrazy]

Last weekend I went out and classified everything to 1/4". I set a small tote by my sluice, filled it half way with water, carried the buckets to the tote, and classified into the tote. I found it much easier and faster to classify due to a fuller range of motion when shaking the classifier. I used to use a 1/2" classifier for everything but not anymore. I like to take a full bucket, start with one pan at 1/2" and work my way down to the size of gold for area. I can classify 6 buckets into my tote then sit back and slowly feed my sluice. When my tote is empty, it's handy for the cleanup if i decide to do one.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Last weekend I went out and classified everything to 1/4". I set a small tote by my sluice, filled it half way with water, carried the buckets to the tote, and classified into the tote. I found it much easier and faster to classify due to a fuller range of motion when shaking the classifier. I used to use a 1/2" classifier for everything but not anymore. I like to take a full bucket, start with one pan at 1/2" and work my way down to the size of gold for area. I can classify 6 buckets into my tote then sit back and slowly feed my sluice. When my tote is empty, it's handy for the cleanup if i decide to do one.

QN, sounds like you could use one of these:

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/404814-building-oversized-classifer.html

I have to classify to 1/8"- for the Gold Cube, and it typically
takes 21-22 3gal. buckets of material to fill the 30 gal. tub.
From that, I would get 7-8 3gal. buckets of 1/8"-.